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Three sensible Detroit Pistons trades for No. 1 pick in NBA Draft

By Stuart London

Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2). Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2). Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kristaps Porzingus Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis (6) Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Cade Cunningham goes home

As has been mentioned, Cade Cunningham is from Arlington, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. If you think Pistons fans are super-stoked about getting Cunningham, can you imagine the hysteria in DFW if Cunningham came there.

Its local NBA team, the Mavericks, disappointed this season. They ended it with a first-round loss in the playoffs, despite having one of the top young stars in the league in Luka Doncic.

The team is in turmoil, as long-time general manager Donnie Nelson and coach Rick Carlisle left shortly after the season ended. There is also a weird little story that a professional gambler named Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris has become the main influence in personnel decisions.

Dallas owner Mark Cuban is used to having the edge on everyone. A co-host of the TV show ‘Shark Tank’ , Cuban is a self-made multi-billionaire who is very involved with the club.

Cuban is undoubtedly looking for a way to turn around the club’s fortunes. Getting Cade Cunningham would certainly accomplish that.

However, as anyone who saw Dallas in the playoffs knows, they have little talent besides Doncic. They also have absolutely no draft picks this year, not even second rounders.

Of course, being creative is what Cuban does. If he can rope in a desperate Cleveland Cavaliers team looking for a way to relevancy, a three-way trade is possible.

The Pistons move back two spots, so they will still get Jalen Green or Evan Mobley, either of whom would have gone No. 1 in most drafts.

So here is a trade that would make The Smoking Cuban quite happy:

A sign-and-trade involving Hardaway Jr. will have to be accomplished to make it work, but that is a low hurdle for Cuban.

Detroit gets a budding star in the 22-year-old Sexton, who averaged 24 points last season, as well as pocket two future first rounders. And the Pistons still get either Green or Mobley, so they add two talented young players to the roster,

Cleveland finally gets to unload Love and his onerous contract. Porzingus makes almost as much, but he is just 25 and they can get out of his contract in a couple of years. Hardaway Jr. and Brunson are solid players who will definitely give a boost to a team that went 22-50 last year.

As for Dallas? Mark Cuban gets what he wants, as he usually does. Can you imagine a backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic? Reunion Arena would be packed every game.

dark. Next. If Detroit Pistons got No. 1 pick, could they trade down?

The Detroit Pistons are in the Catbird seat. They can do absolutely nothing and get a great player. But there are 29 other teams that would like a great player as well. GM Troy Weaver will make any team pay, dearly, for No. 1.

One thing is definite: Troy Weaver’s cell phone bill must be astronomical.